Shower curtain rod attachment



DCC. 25, 1956 E A. ZALOGA SHOWER CURTAIN ROD ATTACHMENT Filed Dec.

INVENTOR. QM 62' 2%7 BY ATTORNEY United.; Sees .Parent 2,774,974 pSHOWERv CURTAIN ROD ATTACHMENT Edwin A. zaloga, Waltham, Mass.Application December 23, 1955, Serial No. 555,072 6 Claims. (Cl. 4-154)This invention relates to a bathroom shower accessory for use withshower curtain rods to aid in supporting a shower curtain in a positionto increase the space in a shower enclosure.

In many shower installations, there is a present tendency to constructthe shower enclosure in a relatively small compact size with the resultthat there is only limited room within the shower enclosure. The usermay, in such relatively small shower enclosures, be undesirably closedin and, in particular, may be inconvenienced by the shower curtaintending to be drawn inwardly to an extent such that it sticks to theuser.

It is an object of the invention to devise a shower curtain stretcheraccessory for dealing with this problem of limited space and,particularly, for preventing the shower curtain from being drawn intocontact with the user. It is a further object of the invention toprovide a curtain stretcher member which may be detachably secured to ashower curtain rod; which is easy to use and install; which can beconveniently stored; which will not damage a shower curtain and, whichis durable and strong.

These and other objects and novel features will be more fully understoodand appreciated from the following discussion of the invention.

Essentially, my invention is based on the idea of dealing with theindicated problem and accomplishing the objectives outlined by combiningwith a curtain shower rod an extension piece which may, in one preferredform, be associated with that portion of a shower enclosure from whichthe shower curtain is suspended which in the usual case consists of acurtain rod. In accordance with the concept of the invention, theextension piece is cornbined in such a way that it may be swung into aposition where it extends laterally outwardly to displace the showercurtain outwardly and support it in a suspended position which increasesthe space within the shower enclosure.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which Fig. l is a view in side elevation and partialcross-section showing the curtain stretcher of the invention adjustablysupported in a shower curtain rod installation; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the curtain stretcher.

Referring more in detail to the structure shown in the drawings, numeral2 denotes a curtain Irod of the conventional type which, as is customarywith such articles, is supported at two ends between opposite sidewallportions of a shower enclosure. Along the rod 2 is slidably supported aplurality of curtain supporting rings as 4 which are ordinarily employedto receive hook fastenings 6. The latter fastenings, in turn, havesuspended therefrom a shower curtain member 8 of plastic or otherwaterproofing material of a length such that it may extend well beyond aconfining edge of a bathtub or shower wall section.

y The fitting v14 is adapted to encircle the curtain rod, as v'noted inFig. l, and threaded through the tting isa wing bolt 16 which is adaptedto jam the curtain rod between its extremity and immediately oppositewall surface of the fitting, as illustrated. It will be apparent that,by loosening the wing bolt, the stretcher may be rotated about ahorizontal axis into various positions of adjustment where it supportsthe curtain in an outwardly projected position to materially increasethe space enclosed by the suspended portions of the curtain. If it isdesired, the stretcher may also be swung upwardly out of an operativeposition entirely.

At its opposite end, the member 10 supports a curtain holder piecev 18which may, for example, consist of a thin sheet material, such as aplastic piece bent over upon itself to present a downwardly extendingapron portion, as shown and against which portions of the shower curtainmay be supported, as indicated. It will be obvious that this folder 18may be located in any desired position and may also be supported byvarious means. For example, I may employ screws or other fastenings to aretaining rod 20, as shown in Fig. 1.

The curtain holder piece 18 may be of a magnitude such that it providesa relatively large supporting area and, by reason of its curved shape,serves to support the shower curtain without in any way tending topierce the shower curtain material or otherwise damage it. Although Ihave shown a single stretcher and curtain holder piece in the drawings,it will be understood that I may use aplurality of these stretchermembers or I may provide a single stretcher member having a plurality ofextension pieces separated from one another to bear against a showercurtain over a much larger area.

It is also intended that various changes may be resorted to in modifyingthe invention. For example, I may attach the stretcher arm and showercurtain holder piece at other points than on the shower curtain rods.For example, the arm may be pivotally associated with one of thesidewalls of the shower enclosure and be adapted to be swung outwardlyto provide a shower curtain holding action. Also, the stretcher may bedesired to be constructed as an integral part of the curtain rod fromwhich, by means of suitable pivoting mechanism, it may be swungoutwardly into any desired position.

It will be observed that I have thus provided a simple, effective, andeasily installed shower curtain attachment which can be easily adjustedto increase the size of the shower enclosure and, yet, may be swung outof the way when its use is not desirable.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should beunderstood that various other changes and modifications may be resortedto within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An accessory for a curtain rod and shower curtain assembly comprisinga stretcher member adapted to support said shower curtain in a laterallyextended position, said stretcher member including an elongated bodyportion, means located at one end of the body portion for securing samein a laterally extended position with re- Il opposite end of theelongated body for supporting a shower curtain thereagainst.

2. A structure as defined in claim 1 in which the means for adjustablysecuring the elongated; body .consists of a tubular fitting and athreaded engaging memberforrlocking the tting around the said curtainlrod.l

3. A structure according to claim 1 in-which 'theA means for receivingthe curtain consists of a thinsheet material curved to present a convexsupporting surface for engaging against the shower curtain.

4. In a shower curtain rod assembly/a curtain rod, a shower curtainsupporting member secured to thevcurtain rod in a'laterally extendedpositionTand a ltriaii'gularly shaped curtain engaging pieceattached atthe. outer end "a: ldownwardly extending aproni 5. A structureaccordingfto claim 1 in which the elongated body portion may be rotatedabout a horizontal aXis into various positions of adjustment.

6. A structure according to claim 1 in which the elongated body portionis vslidable on the curtain rod and adapted to be secureda'tlany'desired point therealong.

` VUNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the le of tliis patent

